Four Arrested, Charged With Luring Bears With Junk Food

Maryville, Blount County (AP) -- The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has arrested four men, accusing them of baiting bears.

TWRA officers had been watching an area in the Greasy Cove Area of Blount County as the four-day bear season opened Tuesday.

The agents say the area where the men were hunting had been baited with powdered chocolate, M&Ms, peanut brittle and other sweets.

Officers arrested Jason Lee Cable and Keith Russell, both of Maryville. They also arrested Tommy Cooper of Walland and Ray Monger of Morristown. They were all charged with hunting in a baited area and with hunting without the landowner's permission.

The hunters' rifles and other gear was confiscated. They'll appear in court in January.

TWRA officer Jeff Pearce says wildlife agents have several areas in the foothills under surveillance.

Online Public Information File

Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or fccinfo@fcc.gov.